The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-08-18
A SECRET EXAMINATION.
HOW TITCOMB WAS RELEASED
WHEN CHARGED WITH CRIME.

IAOA buI DIS no w lJDeSSeS AppedI I1e
is Set Free-Two Justices Declare the
Proceedings of Their Court Secret
A Trio Of Remarkable Memories.
Saturday evening, July 81, Mr. Sam j.
Titcomb was arrested for attempting to kill
Constable Julius Kaufman, on Broughton
street. He was jailed, and held on three
rges-assault with intent to kill, carry
ing concealed weapon and a peace war
rant, the bail for all being placed at 81 500.
He was arraigned before Justice Naughtin
the Monday following, and released on $3.50
bail, to await trial in the City Court, as the
Justice then stated. 1t may surprise some
| to know that an examination was held be
fore Justice Reynolds last week, and Mr..
l1tcomb discharged, 1.-THE prosecution fail
ing to appear" as the Justice explained
HE KNEW NOTHING ABOUT IT.
The statement that he had been released
was made yesterday afternoon, and an in
veStigation was started TO verify it. A visit
was paid to Justice Naughtin's Office, and
| an inquiry was made TO ascertain if the case
had come to trial Il don't know anything
about it.n replied the Justice II suppose it
viii come up in the fall Nothing has come
| to me regarding itn The question was re-
| iterated, but in another form, as to whether
| it was to come up soon, or had been touched
| upon and the Justice emphatically SAID no.
| Furthermore, he remarked that he WIS
witness in the case, and if anything was
| done in the premises he would surely be
notified.
| KAUFMAN NOT NOTIFIED.
| This mystified the searcher after news. as
surely the Magistrate who committed him
would know of the case. Learning that
| Mr.. Kaufman was quite i'll at his home
| visit was made there. He was Just able to
| get up in his room up stairs, and the reporter
sent up the questions by Mrs. Kaufman
and she brought back the answers. In
| effect he said he knew of no developments
| in the case and did not think Mr.. Titcomb
| had been released. He (Kaufman) was an
important witness in the case and nothing
had been said to him regarding it. There
| fore he thought there was nothing in it.
AN IRATE MAGISTRATE.
Justice Reynolds Court was next visited
and the question propounded
'tHas the Titcomb case been settledE"
The Magistrate looked at the reporter for
a second and then brusquely replied 81
| don't know anything of any settlement"
"Well, has the case been tried. or is there
| anything new regarding it."
Wasn't Titcomb before you last weekY'
well, yes. But what business is it of
| yours"
"Can you tell me what occurred at the
| trial" persisted the reporter.
"Its none of your business" warmly re-
| piled the judicial light.
II was told that Titcombe had been tried
| here last week, and that he was released.
| Will you tell me if this is trueF'
''He had an examination here and as no
one appeared to prosecute him, he was re-
| leased, unwillingly answered the Justice.
TITCoSiB's RELEASE ADMITTED.
lis he released from the bond of $3.50 that
| Justice Naughtin imposed on himn
Il tell you he was before me for examlna-
ton, and as no one appeared to prosecute
| him, | discharged him. He is free as any
one, as far as | am concerned"
''How did it come up! Why was it kept
so still. Were the witnesses notifiedT in
terrogated the reporter.
81 decline to answer. l don't propose to
| give everybody all the workings of my
Office" was the impatient and somewhat
| wrathy reply Of the Justice.
"Will you tell me if Justice Naughtin sent
the case here"
Eyes, he did. The official papers came to
me in an envelope, and tried the case"
| "Was Justice Naughtin present as a wit
ness" was then asked
Il decline to answer. Go and ask him, "
was the short reply.
| WAS he notified or subpenaed!"
| Il have nothing to say. Go and ask
him"
SOMETHING OF A sTAR-cHAMBER.
| "Was Mr. Kaufman notfedp'
| eyes, he was, and we have the writ here
with the return on it," replied Mr.. Rey
| nolds.
"But he was sick last week. said the re-
| porter.
HE wasn't sick when the subpoena was
| served on him. He was as well as any one
| then"
Other questions were put to the rather
| incensed Magistrate, but he very abruptly
refused to give any information. He said
at last that he held the examination in the
| usual course of business; no one ap-
peared to prosecute the party and
he discharged him. Further, that he
was one of the Justices who believed in
| keeping all their business in their own office.
He didn't propose making it public at all
| The Solicitor General was his boss. and un-
less he said to make his docket public he
| should refuse to give any information. Re
! garding the day when the examination was
held he also refused to give it.
HE THINKS THE BOND is GOOD.
Justice Naughtin was then again visited
and the reporter asked if there wasn't some
thing the Justice could give him about the
| case.
mot a thing" was the reply.
"Havnht You had any papers regard
ing itf' was then asked
mo, l havn't seen anything concerning
| it.n
wouldn't you be apt to be subppnaed if
the case was tried, or at least to know some
thing of il"
II certainly think so, for l am an import
ant witness and they would notify men
"Was his bond for the higher court or
| was it simply for examinationN
ut was for trial at the City Court, am
sure" said the Justice.
us the bond in force now. and goodln
YES, in full force and will hold till his
trial some time in December, think
In reply TO further questioning the JUS
tice said the bondsman was good, naming
him, but admitted he did not know his bust
ness Another attempt was made to ascer-
tain if the Justice knew Of the disposal of
the case mt Justice Reynolds office. but he
decidedly negatived all such knowledge.
HE WAS SUBPTNAED.
Mr.. kaufmaun's residence was next
visited, and on the reporters urgent request
he was allowed to converse with Mr. Kauf-
manu-. The first question asked showed the
latter that the whole story was known, and
in reply 60 various questions he gave the
following in substance: 'Soon after Tit
comb was arrested I was visited by lots of
his friends who wanted me to go light